Refrigerator



May 17, 1938. A H. L.' MERRILL 2,117,564

REFRIGERATOR FiledFeb. 1, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l /Nl/N 70A HARRY L .MERRILL May 17, 1938. H. 1 MERRILL. 42,117,564

REFRIGERATOR Filed Feb. 1, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/a HaV /Nz/EN T02 HARRY L. MERRILL Patented May 17,- 1938 harmoniseren Harry L. Merrill, Nashua, N. H., assigner to Harder Refrigerator Corporation,

Cobleskill,

N. Y., a corporationy of New York. Application February 1, 1937, Serial No. 123,356

` ls claims.' (ci. cs2-46) My invention relates to refrigerators and particularly to improvements in refrigerators of the type having a transverse partition therein' subdividing the interior of the refrigerator cabinet- 5 into an ice compartment above and a storage compartment below and in which the air to be cooled ows upwardly at the sides of the refrigerator through openings in the partition and is then deflected laterally underneath the ice, and finally flows downwardly into the storag'e compartment through a central opening in said partition. My invention also relates to improvements in grids or ice supports for refrigerators of the above type comprising acentral element and similar side elements which cooperate with the central element to form the grid.

In my Letters Patent #2,062,139 and my copending application Serial No. 102,499iiled September 25, 1936, which relate to refrigerators of the above type. I have shown the central opening in the partition bridged by an inverted U- shaped element having a fiat top upon which the ice rests. The air streams flowing towards eachother in opposite directions under the side Velements of the grid meet beneath the inverted U- through the central opening in the partition.

In refrigerators in which the air circulates as above described, the temperature of the air as l it rises upwardly at the sides of the compartment and passes through the so-'called warm air ducts or passages at the sides of the transverse partition is relatively high, probablyof the order oi about 50 F. After it has passed beneath the grid andreached a point adjacent the central opening in the partition, its temperature has fallen appreciably and is probably of the order of about 41 F. The ice on theA grid to which the heat from the air is transferred is about' 32 F.,4

ly at the sides than at the center with the result that the ice block may recede somewhat from the surface of the grid at the sides and thuabeing 50 supported at and about the center only, may

` tend to swing on the grid.

I nd that this may be overcome either byv so designing the center of the grid that it will.

. to speak, engage the bottom of the ice, or by 55 providing a grid of such design that the rate of shaped element and then flowV downwardly' kshown in Fig. 1;

heat transfer from air to ice in the central portion thereof is comparatively high, or preferably by a combination of both these features.

One of the objects of my present invention is to provide an improved type of central element 5l which will not only increase the rate of air circulation in the refrigerator but will also effect an increased chilling ofthe air so that temperatures somewhat below those nowattainable in the refrigerators of the foregoingpatent and applica- 10 tion may be maintained in the storage compartment. Another object is toA provide an improved type of side element which may be used in co,-

y operation with my new central element.`

With'these objects in' view, my invention in- 15 -cludes the novel elements and the, combinations of elements described' below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improvedtype of central grid element;

Fig. 2 isa fragmentary perspective view of a 2 modified type of central element;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the elemen Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of my central 25 element showing the drainage `opening in .the baci; thereof;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view o i an improved type of side element; y

Fig. '6 is a. fragmentary perspective View of a side element of the type shown in my patent and copending application aforesaid but which may be used with my modified type of central element shown in Fig. 2; i

Fig. 7 is 'afragmentary sectional elevation of a. refrigerator showing how my improved side eiement illustrated in Fig. 5 is combined with the improved central element shown in Fig. l to form the ice support;

Fig. 8 is an end view of a modified form of central element;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side view of the element shown in Fie. 8; l

Fig'. 1li is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of side element;

Fig. il' is a' fragmentary section of Fig. 1i) in the plane ill-M; p

Fig. 12 is a. section similar to Fig. 11 showing a modification; I

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary section of Fig. 10 in the plane i3-i3;

Fig.' 1li 'is a fragmentary element shown in Fig.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary cross section of my refrigerator looking from front to back and showplan view of the side of the refrigerator by :forming this central eletarded in the zone of conuence oi the two side streams where they meet beneath the inverted U-shaped central grid element. In the refrigerator of the present invention, I have overcome this retardation of the air iiow and pocketing of air under the central element by so forming said element as to deect 'f the counter-owing side streams downwardly towards the central opening in the partition before permitting them to intermingle, and I have also increased the eiciency ment of a high. heat-conducting metal, such as aluminum, and in the shape of a trough which be substantially solidly filled with ice at all times. The emciency ci the refrigerator may be further increased by forming the side grid elements also of a high heat-conductingI metal and in the form hereinafter described.

' Referring to the drawings, i represents generally my improved centrai element which preferably comprises a sheetl oi alluninum'bent into the form of a il-shaped trough, as shown'at 2, and `which extends substantially from the front to the back of the refrigerator cabinet. Soldered.. riveted or otherwise secured, as shown at 3, to the ends of the V-shaped trough are vertically depending supports d which rest upon the transverse partition 5, as shown in Fig. 7. The partition 5 is to be understood as extending from the interior iront to the interior hack of the refrigerator cabinet t. At the sides, openings or air ducts 'i are provided for the upiiow of warm air from the storage compartment, and a central opening 8 is 4provided in the partition for the downow of cold air.

Alt the top, the sides of the V-shaped trough shown in' Fig. 1 are bent outwardly toV form subi stantially horizontal lips 9 and l which cooper. ate with the side .elements of the grid as described below. In order to prevent condensation on the under side of the central element from dripping through the opening t into the storage compartment, I provide beneath the V, and slightly spaced therefrom, a shallow, V-shaped gutter Il which is provided at the rear end with an opening I2, (See Fig-4) through which the water collecting therein is discharged on top of the back portion of the partition and hows into the discharge pipe |3.` The partition is also preferably downwardly inclined from the-sides towards the centralopening and slightly inclined from the front tp the rear of the cabinet in order to provide drainage toward the discharge pipe I3. Secured to the opposite, inner sides of the cabinet and just above the warm air ducts l are angles id upon which the outer ends of the side elements of the grid are supported. as shown at i5. l While my central grid element may be used with various types of side elements, and particularly those disclosed inA my Letters Patent and copending application aforesaid, a fragmentary portion of one of which is shown at it in Fig. 6, I prefer to use side elements of the type shown in Figs. 5, 10, l1, 12, 13and 14, and represented generally by the numeral H. These elements are preferably of rather heavy aluminum and formed by extruding the metal from a die, or by casting..-

They comprise smooth, plate-like, upper surfaces central element.

shown in Fig. Zthe web 32 of channel 2l serves as a water-stop. :Adjacent the water-stop, thel I8 having a plurality of depending ns or heat conductors 'IS integral therewith. These con-l ductors may be of uniform depth, as shown in Figs. 5, "l, 10, 11 and 15, or they may increase in depth from the sides of the refrigerator towards the central opening 8, as shown at I9 in Fig. l2. thus providing heat transfer surfaces of greater Earea'in those zoneswhere the temperature differential between the air and ice is reduced. While it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to side grid elements of any particular dimensions, I have found that, for ordinary household refrigerators. very satisfactory results are obtained by making the ns I9 from 1%" to 1%" deep and spacing them'about 3A on centers. The upper surfaces I8 of the side elements extend somewhat beyond the both ends of the fins. as shown at and 26 in Figs. 5, 1l and l2. to form-overhanging ledges. The ledges 20 rest on the angles It, as shown at i5. Adjacent the central element, the side elements may be formed with channels 2l therein, as shown in Figs. 5 and '7, which are adapted to t over the lips 9 and l@ on the central element. Thus, the side elements described above are supported at one end on the angles ld and at the other end on the central element, and at such an elevation that the bottoms of the heat-conducting fins it are slightly spaced above the top of the partition, as shown at 22 in Fig. '1.

Where side elements of the type shown in Figf are used, a modified .type of central element, such as that shown in Fig. 2, is,employed. In. this case, the cross section of the central elementmay be said to approximate the letter M in form. The bottoms 23 of the vertical legs 2B rest on the partition at opposite sides 'of the central opening 8 and the vertical sides 24 of the M are provided with approximately triangular openings 25 arranged to register with the passages 26 underneath the V-shaped grid shown in Fig. 6.

Where it is desiredkto support the ice rack i1 may be formed with overhanging ledges 2l, at`

the sides, as shown in Fig. l0, which are adapted .to rest upon angles 28 secured to the interior back and front of the cabinets, as shown in Fig. 16. In this case the central element may be supported independently of the partition 5 by bent angles 29 (see Fig. 15) secured to the interior front and, backof .the cabinet. Where the central element is thus supported, the elements 4l shown in Fig. 1 which are designed to rest on the partition 5 are unnecessary.

Where the central elements is M-shaped, as shownA in Figs. 2, 8 and 9. and is used with the side elements shown in Fig. 10, the openings 25 (see Fig. 9) in the legs of the M are preferably rectangular and disposed to register with the air passages between the depending fins I9.

The type of side element shown in Figs. l0, ll

and 12 is designed to abut the side of the central element, as shown at 30 in Fig. 15, and is provided With an upturned lip 3l forming a curb or stop for water ilowing downwardly towards the In the type of side element therein and illustrated in Fig. 6, may be formedeither of aluminum or galvanized iron or steel,

` and with the fins I9 depending therefrom.

When a block of .ice Vis first placed in the re frigerator, it is supported at its ends only, which rest upon the `side elements of the grid near the sides of the refrigerator, while the central bottom portion of the ice block is considerably above the central portion of the grid. However,A as the bottom end portions of the ice melt away the ice block settles downwardly and the area ofthe bottom of the ice in contact with the top of the grid becomes progressively greater until the V- shaped 'channel in the central elementbecomes substantially solidly filled with ice. The two streams of air flowing under the side elements and in opposite directions `toward the central opening impinge against the sides of the central element and, since these are inclined downwardly toward the central opening, the air is not only further chilled by coming in direct Contact with the ice filled central element but is also deflected downwardly toward and through the opening 8.

By using an aluminum grid throughout it is possible to maintain temperatures in the storage compartment much lower than is possible with the use of other metals although it is to be understood that in the cheaper types of construction galvanized iron may be used inthe side grid elements of the type shown in Fig. 6.

What I claim is:

1. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet, a transverse partition therein dividing said cabinet into an ice compartment above anda storage compartment below; said partition being providedwith a. central opening therein for the downow of cold air and being spaced from opposite sides of said refrigerator to provide openings for the upflow of warm air; and an ice support above said partition and cooperating therewith to form passages for the flow of air from said side openings towards said central opening; the central zone of said ice support above the central opening in said partition comprising a metal trough adapted to be filled with ice and having the sides thereof extending downwardly into thepath o'f the air streams emerging from said4 passages,

whereby to deflect said air streams towards said ings for the upflow of warm air; of an ice rackr above said partition and comprising three sep' arate elements whereby it is readily removable from said cabinet; said elements including two similar side elements having comparatively deep, Vishaped valleys therein and cooperating with said partition to form passages for the ow of air from said side openings towards said central opening, and a central element extending across the space between said side elements Vand positioned over the central opening in said partition; said central 4element being formed with a comparatively deep valley therein running in a direction at right angles to the valleys in the side elements.

3. An ice support for a refrigerator. comprising a central, trough-like, portion adapted to be filled with ice and formed of metal having high heat conductivity, and a portion at either side of and cooperating with said central portion .comprising a metal plate having high-heat conductivity and having a plurality of fins integral therewith and depending from the bottom thereof; the bottom of said trough-like portion depending substantially below the level of the top of those portions of said fins which are adjacent thereto. g

4. In an ice refrigerator the combination with a cabinet having a partition extending from the front to the back thereof and subdividing the interior of said cabinet into an ice compartment above anda storage compartment. below; said partition being provided with a central opening for the downow of cold air and being spaced from the sides of said cabinet to form openings for the upow of warm air; of an ice rack above said partition and comprising a central element and two similar side elements cooperating therewith and with said partition to form passages for the iiow of air between said side openings and said central opening; said side elements comprising-aluminum plates having' a plurality of heat conducting fins depending therefr'om into said air passages; and said central element being positioned over said central opening and comprising a trough-like element of aluminum having the sides of the trough extending downwardly into the path of the airvstreams emerging from said passages whereby to deflect said air streams downwardly towards said central opening.

5. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet, an ice support therein subdividing the interior of said cabinet into an ice compartment above and a storage compartment below, the central zone of said support comprising means forming a comparatively deep trough adapted to be substantially solidly filled with ice and extending in a dixection from front to rear of said cabinet, and the side zones of said support being downwardly vinclined towards said central zone and comprising therefrom; and a partition, provided with a central opening therein and spaced from the interior sides of said cabinet, below andcooperating with the plates forming the side zones of said ice support to form passages `for the ow of air from the sides of said cabinet towards said central opening. l

6. In ,an ice refrigerator of the character described, an ice support comprising three separable elements, including acentral and two similar side elements, whereby it is readily removable from said refrigerator; the upper ends of said side elements' adjacent said central element being supported thereon.

7.- A refrigerator comprising a cabin'et, a

transverse partition therein subdividing the in-` terior of said cabinet into an ice compartment above and a storage compartment below; said partition being provided with a central opening therein forthe down flow of cold air and being spaced from opposite sides of said refrigerator to form openings for the upflow of warm air; and an ice support above said partition and cooperating therewith to form passages for the flow of air from said openings toward said central opening; the ice support above the central opening in said partition having a Vportion extending downwardly into and substantially throughout the path of the air streams emerging from said passages, whereby to deflect said air streams downwardly toward said central opening before their confluence. A

8. An ice refrigerator comprising a cabinet having a partition therein subdividing the interior of said cabinet into an ice compartment above and a storage compartment below; said partitionbeing provided with a central opening 'for the down'ow of cold air and being spaced passages downwardly toward said central opening to a zone of confiuence.

HARRY L. 

